From November 2025, Ofsted will begin using a new Early Years Inspection Toolkit for all nurseries, preschools, and childminders. This change is designed to make inspections clearer, fairer, and more focused on what really matters — children’s experiences, safety, and happiness.
What is the new toolkit?
The Early Years Inspection Toolkit replaces the existing inspection handbook and provides a clear framework for how Ofsted inspectors will evaluate early years settings. Rather than focusing purely on paperwork, the new approach looks more closely at what children actually experience day-to-day — ensuring that environments are safe, nurturing, and inclusive for every child.
What inspectors will look at
Inspectors will consider how well children:
- Achieve – Are all children learning, developing, and making good progress?
- Belong – Do all children feel safe, welcome, and included?
- Thrive – Are children happy, confident, and developing the skills and knowledge they need for the next stage of learning?
Alongside these core areas, inspectors will also evaluate safeguarding, inclusion, curriculum and teaching, children’s well-being, and leadership.
What’s new about the grading system?
After each visit, settings will receive a report card showing performance in different evaluation areas rather than one overall grade. A new five-point grading scale will be introduced, replacing the previous “overall effectiveness” judgement.
This change gives parents and carers a clearer, more transparent overview of how their child’s nursery or preschool is performing in specific areas, highlighting strengths and areas for development.
What this means for parents and practitioners
For parents, this provides a more meaningful insight into a setting’s quality. Instead of a single word like “Good” or “Outstanding,” you’ll be able to see how your child’s setting performs in different aspects of care and education.
For practitioners and providers, it offers a fairer, more contextual assessment, acknowledging that every nursery is unique, with its own community, challenges, and successes.
How you can use this information
When reading Ofsted reports or speaking with your child’s nursery, consider asking:
- How does the nursery ensure every child feels included and valued?
- What does the curriculum look like in practice?
- How are children’s interests and progress supported each day?
- How does leadership reflect on and improve practice?
Why this matters
The new inspection framework reflects a wider shift across early years, from compliance to impact. It focuses on how children are supported to learn, develop, and thrive, and how each setting creates a safe, inclusive environment that helps children feel they belong.
Ultimately, these changes are designed to give both parents and practitioners a clearer picture of quality, ensuring every child has the best possible start in life.